The Forever Christmas

We had 3 of 4 Christmas celebrations last week (one of the positives of a divorced family!) and Jack hit the Jackpot (we didn't do too bad, either...)! The weekend before Christmas, we traveled to Anderson to Grammy and Gpa Dale's house. Jack met Santa and had a great time with his first gift-opening experience...he loves his new guitar and got some sharp new 'duds from Uncle Heath! We had a great time with great food as usual and it was nice to start the holiday by relaxing...

Christmas Fuzzies

John Mayer in Training

Christmas Eve was spent up at Scott's parent's with lunch and Christmas Eve Church Service (Jack did well - loved the choir and fell asleep during the candle lighting). Gma and Pop had everything ready for Christmas at their home, but due to a family death, we re-grouped and traveled to Columbus...but it was nice the see their beautiful tree and hang out.

Jack w/ Pop and Gma Walti

Next was Christmas Morning just the 3 of us at our house. Santa needed a little treat of his own after assembling Jack's "Bouncing & Spinning Zebra" -

Then it was time for the big show - and Jack actually seemed excited! He woke up around 8am (thanks, buddy!) and walked out to his zebra, looked back and me and smiled! It made my day...we have it on video and I will try to post it later. He did a good job of ripping the wrapping paper off and pretty much spent approximately a minute with each toy before being "over it." Scott and I had a $50 limit this year, so I got some gloves and a red Starbucks "to-go" cup...best gift ever...along with my Uggs, which were just an added bonus for being a good Mommy...

After a breakfast of pancakes for Jack and chocolate croissants for Mommy & Daddy (yum), we headed to Columbus, OH, to Scott's brother Todd's house to celebrate with all the Walti family and kids...We had a blast as usual. Scott's cousin Ray was tragically killed in a car accident the Sunday before, so we also had the funeral to attend, but we made the best out of the situation and still had a great time. The kids were hilarious playing with their toys (big kids got scooters, big hit!) and we adults had good food, good wine and great conversation....also finally got The Dark Knight to work - good flick!

Ryan & Lily trying out the new Cars couch

Sam trying out his music table

Classic Drew

3 Crazy Boys

Now we are on to the final celebration this weekend with my Dad..And Jack is attending his first New Year's Eve Dinner Party at The Ludwig's tomorrow night - looking forward to another fun weekend...but also feeling that this holiday will never end! On to 2009!!

He was a good Santa Claus!

We took Jacky Boy to see Santa at the good 'ol Mounds Mall when we went to visit Grammy this weekend. Jack was loving the fake snow, the animated deer, the poinsettas...until I placed him on Santa's lap and the fear struck his eyes. Then he founds Santa's beard (real, too, he was a great old Santa) and calmed down a bit. We couldn't get him to smile, but I think that almost makes a better "First Santa" picture? At least he looked cute in his little vest - Scott thought he looked like a wonderful middle-aged accountant...

Scott and I loved starting this tradition and are getting so excited for the next few days!

Active Boy

Here is a video of some of Jack's first steps as promised. The quality isn't great, as it was taken on my camera; I really need to figure out how to transfer from my videocamera to computer. He has perfected it since this time...now he is refusing to crawl anywhere and is getting into EVERYHING...Needless to say, we now only have ornaments on the top half of our Christmas Tree! (And as always...please excuse my baby talk - I PROMISE that I don't talk like that all the time!)

Jack Walks - 12/2008

Sleeping like a baby...

Couldn't resist...Scott and I were cracking up when we walked in on Friday and saw this...

He didn't seem to mind!!

Family Fun!!

Drew (12 mos), Jack (10 mos) and Sam (7 1/2 mos)

We recently celebrated our nephew's birthdays (Drew - 1 year and Ryan, 3 years!) in Columbus with our Walti family. As usual, we had a blast and it was SO FUN to see all the little kiddos together. And Jack always gets smarter when we get home after learning from his older cousins Lily, Ryan and Drew, he came home and just stood up and started walking (video to follow, soon)! For those that don't know, we had 3 boys born within 5 months - Dec / Feb / April this past year - so it is crazy! Jack had a blast playing with Drew in the dog crate and was in heaven with all of his cousin's toys (and carpet!)

Happy Birthday Ryan and Drewbie! Jack can't wait to play again at Christmas!

We love you all!!

The Village People: Chloe, Lily (3 1/2 yrs) and Ryan (3 yrs)

Our Walti Family

Stocking Memories...

Stockings have ALWAYS been my favorite part of Christmas. My mom always made a point to fill them with lovely little things like lipgloss, nail clippers, gum, candy and once, a piece of coal (that must have been that brief rebellious stint in 9th grade). My brother and I would always save them for last and they were (and still are) always so full that she would have to put them on the ground next to the fireplace so that they wouldn't fall off the mantle.

Tomorrow marks the 5th anniversary of my favorite stocking memory. On December 13th, 2003, Scott proposed during a wonderful weekend full of my "favorite things"...my ring was at the bottom of my stocking and I remember FREAKING OUT when I reached among the Hershey's Kisses to find a ring box! I obviously said yes, and now Scott enjoys stockings as much as I do.

When we found out that we were pregnant last May, literally one of the first things that I thought about was what kind of stocking I would buy my first born. I was hesitant to buy one last December (didn't want to jinx the karma), but this year, I began checking online in July to see if they were for on sale yet. Well...October was the month and I think I found the perfect one for my little Reindeer. Jack always has a red/orange-y nose, so I thought that a Rudolph sock would be very fitting. It looks great next to ours, and it makes me tear up just looking at his name and thinking about all the fun things that I will put in there during his life. This year, it will just be Gerber Graduates, sippy cups, and little cars. I hope that he enjoys our family tradition as much as I do and perhaps Jack will make some lucky girl's dream come true someday with a diamond ring in the bottom of her stocking!!

Congrats on your new Home, Uncle Heath!

I just wanted to give a quick shout-out to my brother, Heath. He recently moved into a new apartment in Columbus, which Jack & I got to visit on Sunday. It looks great and he is really just doing so well; he is such a hard worker and good person - we are so proud of him! Love you, Uncle Bubb!!

Welcome to our blog!

Jack w/ his Aunt Kensi

Well...in keeping up with the 21st century, I have decided to start a family blog so that our family & friends from across the US can keep up with what we (really, Jack, let's be serious) are up to and how our family is changing. I hope you enjoy!!!